Dallas PD? - unable to listen to

[jstone5821]

I'm sorry for my lack of knowledge. I have the SDS 100 and had been a frequent listener to the Dallas PD and fire departments. It had been a while since I had listened to them, so I was surprised when I was not able to hear any transmissions. I have no difficulty listening to the Frisco or Plano PD or fire departments.
It appears that Dallas is now located under the North Texas Interoperable Network NTIRN. I'm not sure if I'm looking in the right place or if they are now encrypted. My service types are on for law, EMS and fire.

I would appreciate any help.
Thank you

 

[Enforcer52]

Yes Dallas is now fully on NTIRN, so you probably need to reprogram your scanner. Dallas PD Dispatch is not encrypted.

Check your PMs, envelope top menu.

 

[hiegtx]

I'm sorry for my lack of knowledge. I have the SDS 100 and had been a frequent listener to the Dallas PD and fire departments. It had been a while since I had listened to them, so I was surprised when I was not able to hear any transmissions. I have no difficulty listening to the Frisco or Plano PD or fire departments.
It appears that Dallas is now located under the North Texas Interoperable Network NTIRN. I'm not sure if I'm looking in the right place or if they are now encrypted. My service types are on for law, EMS and fire.

I would appreciate any help.
Thank you

While there are some encrypted Dallas PD talkgroups, they are almost always tactical, investigative, or surveillance type activities.

The dispatch talkgroups for all of the patrol divisions talkgroups are in the clear and quite active.

Be sure that you have the Dallas Layer 1 & Dallas Layer 2 sites programmed.

Dallas Fire Rescue dispatch & fireground type frequencies are also in the clear. There are some that are encrypted, like communications training, but all of the talkgroups that are of interest to me are in the clear.

(Edit to add- I got your conversation message & will respond there.)

 

[IAmSixNine]

While there are some encrypted Dallas PD talkgroups, they are almost always tactical, investigative, or surveillance type activities.

The dispatch talkgroups for all of the patrol divisions talkgroups are in the clear and quite active.

Be sure that you have the Dallas Layer 1 & Dallas Layer 2 sites programmed.

Dallas Fire Rescue dispatch & fireground type frequencies are also in the clear. There are some that are encrypted, like communications training, but all of the talkgroups that are of interest to me are in the clear.

(Edit to add- I got your conversation message & will respond there.)

To clarify what @hiegtx said you need to monitor Dallas Layer 1 (3-1) to get all police and fire for Dallas. layer 2 (3-2) only carries a couple of PD/FD channels.

 

[jstone5821]

I am so appreciative of everyone's comments. I am still not able to hear Dallas PD or FD. I am in Frisco, close to McKinney. I am using a Remtronics antenna on my SDS 100. I wonder if I might be out of range? I have no issues with Frisco or Plano.

 

[Enforcer52]

You just might be out of range looking at the map of the coverage area for Dallas Layer1. Drive towards Dallas and see when you start picking them up. Is the Remtronics made for the 700-800mhz range? Or you might have to get an outside antenna for the house and or vehicle.

 

[nd5y]

You just might be out of range looking at the map of the coverage area for Dallas Layer1.

The range circles in the database are not coverage maps. RF doesn't stop at the red line.

 

[Enforcer52]

The range circles in the database are not coverage maps. RF doesn't stop at the red line.

I know that, not my first rodeo, but a good indication of range I have found on 700-800mhz systems, especially low powered systems in metro areas. Also the antennas used on the system point back to the center tower and not outwards 360 degrees, they are mounted to cover a specific range. In the case of Dallas it is only 20 miles circle of downtown.

My son's house is about the same distance away in Fort Worth and I only pick up Dallas on an outside antenna at his house. Lots of infrastructure to block RF up there.

 

[hiegtx]

I am so appreciative of everyone's comments. I am still not able to hear Dallas PD or FD. I am in Frisco, close to McKinney. I am using a Remtronics antenna on my SDS 100. I wonder if I might be out of range? I have no issues with Frisco or Plano.

Which Remtronics antenna? Is your reception any better outside the house rather than inside?

I realize that my range, as far as more distant systems is concerned, is somewhat limited since my house has metal siding. I know I would get better, more distant, reception with an external antenna. When I had one (lost due to storm damage), I had much better, longer range reception. But now, with my age & a bum hip to boot, I have no business trying to get up on the roof to install a new, better, external antenna. Fortunately, I'm on higher ground than a number of other points in the city. Not "Cedar Hill high" (for those familiar with the area), but above many other parts of the city.

 

[hiegtx]

You just might be out of range looking at the map of the coverage area for Dallas Layer1. Drive towards Dallas and see when you start picking them up. Is the Remtronics made for the 700-800mhz range? Or you might have to get an outside antenna for the house and or vehicle.

View attachment 189098

That "coverage map" for Dallas Layer 1 is a 'guestimate'. That site is using 700Mhz frequencies that are from the state's license, so we don't have an accurate map of exactly where the actual sites are located.

Dallas layer 2 does have the actual sites plotted. Most of it's frequencies were previously part of the old, Motorola Type 2, Dallas Local Government system,.